Palm Sunday Witness Program

• Welcome and Prayer

• Why we are gathered

• Orientation and Safety

• Learning song “Down to the Courthouse to Pray”

• Litany of Lament (see below)

• Procession begins in silence

Refrain: As we go down to the courthouse to pray, studying about that good old way on how we love our neigh-bors, Good Lord, show us the way.:

Leader: Good Lord, show us how to treat those, who need healing for their wounds.

Good Lord, help us to keep open the doors of rural hospital rooms.

Good Lord, help us to know that constant changes in eligibility, O God, will adversely impact those with the most health fragility.

R: As we go down to the courthouse to pray, studying about that good old way on how we love our neigh-bors, Good Lord, show us the way.

Leader: Good Lord, show us the people for whom lack of food or medication makes it seem as though on their job they have no dedication.

Good Lord, show us that decreasing funds for health centers, WIC and SNAP will not bless the children but make a negative health impact.

R. As we go down to the courthouse to pray, studying about that good old way on how we love our neigh-bors, Good Lord, show us the way.

Leader: Good Lord, we have neighbors with chronic common conditions.

Good Lord, we have neighbors with HIV/AIDS, sickle cell, and addictions.

Good Lord, show us the way to deal more compassionately with funding that positively impacts the health of folks in Tennessee.

R. As we go down to the courthouse to pray, studying about that good old way on how we love our neigh-bors, Good Lord, show us the way.

O neighbors, let’s go down, let’s go down, come on down!

O neighbors, let’s go down, down to the courthouse to pray.

copyright 2026, Marilyn E. Thornton, used by permission

Leader: As Jesus entered Jerusalem, he wept for a city that mistook power for peace.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We march and we weep today—for our state and nation, where immigration actions separate families, nutrition programs are cut, and healthcare and disability benefits are stripped from those most in need.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We grieve policies that weaken voting rights, roll back civil protections, and turn fear into law.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We reject the rise of authoritarianism and the acts of retribution against those who stand up for their freedoms.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We cry out for the world—where war displaces millions, humanitarian aid is withdrawn, and the poor are left to suffer from famine and disease.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We lament for your creation—endangered by weakened environmental safeguards, polluted water, poisoned land, and skies filled with harm.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We reject the misuse of your name to bless cruelty, domination, and unjust policy.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: We cry “Hosanna”, Save! for the neighbors harmed by these choices—and ask forgiveness for all the ways we have remained silent.

People: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Leader: Lead us in your way of peace—until justice rolls down like waters, and love walks these streets again.

All: Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.